McLaren Chief Criticises Red Bull's Accountability

Brown Slams Horner, Red Bull for Dodging Duties

08/08/2024

Brown criticises Horner and Red Bull, addressing major issues within F1’s competitive integrity.

Zak Brown Displeased with Red Bull and Christian Horner’s Failure to Acknowledge Faults The McLaren F1 CEO specifically points to the Austrian team’s 2021 budget overrun, which was never officially acknowledged as an error.

Zak Brown expressed dissatisfaction that Red Bull and Christian Horner have not fully accepted responsibility for certain criticisms levelled against them. Specifically, he referred to the Austrian team’s budget overspend in 2021, which has never been openly acknowledged as a mistake.

“I’ve known Christian for 25 or 30 years. We used to race against each other. I would say we got along well,” Brown stated, wishing for more honesty from the Red Bull director. “I believe in transparency.”

“I believe you need to raise your hand when you make a mistake. Regarding the budget cap, the excuses that have been made, I’ve never really heard ‘we simply got it wrong.’ I’ve heard excuses, and I’ve seen them fail to take responsibility.”

“When someone breaches the cost cap and does not seem to take it seriously, it undermines the integrity and very essence of the sport. For me, it’s not about the person. It’s about protecting our sport.”

Brown also recalled his call for transparency in what is now known as ‘the Horner affair’, following allegations of harassment against the Briton: “And when I see things that are not in line with our values, I will speak out because it’s important that people understand where we are headed.”

“I am aware that this may not always be popular, or that I won’t be everyone’s friend in the pit lane, but as long as I am a friend to McLaren, our fans, our partners, that’s what matters most to me.”

However, Brown denied that McLaren is looking to recruit Adrian Newey, who left Red Bull earlier this year: “We are not going to sign Adrian. I am very pleased with the team. Adrian is a great friend, a huge talent, with an unparalleled CV.”

“But with what we have in place here, I could not be happier. We can do the job. I am happy with the race team we have, and we are going to try to win the world championship with the team that is here today.”

Brown hinted at a possible Constructors’ Championship bid from McLaren this year: “It’s going to be a fierce fight. I think it will be a fierce struggle among the four teams. You’re going to witness epic battles. Eight drivers who can turn up at almost any circuit and win, and it’s going to be exciting.”

McLaren Chief Criticises Red Bull's Accountability

McLaren Chief Criticises Red Bull’s Accountability McLaren Chief Criticises Red Bull’s Accountability

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2025 F1 Australian Grand Prix - Race Results

Lando Norris
1
LANDO
NORRIS
57
Max Verstappen
2
MAX
VERSTAPPEN
+0.895s
George Russell
3
GEORGE
RUSSELL
+8.481s
Alex Albon
4
ALEX
ALBON
+12.773s
Kimi Antonelli
5
KIMI
ANTONELLI
+15.135s
Lance Stroll
6
LANCE
STROLL
+17.413s
Nico Hulkenberg
7
NICO
HULKENBERG
+18.423s
Charles Leclerc
8
CHARLES
LECLERC
+19.826s
Oscar Piastri
9
OSCAR
PIASTRI
+20.448s
Lewis Hamilton
10
LEWIS
HAMILTON
+22.473s
Pierre Gasly
11
PIERRE
GASLY
+26.502s
Yuki Tsunoda
12
YUKI
TSUNODA
+29.884s
Esteban Ocon
13
ESTEBAN
OCON
+33.161s
Oliver Bearman
14
OLIVER
BEARMAN
+40.351s
Liam Lawson
15
LIAM
LAWSON
47 DNF
Gabriel Bortoleto
16
GABRIEL
BORTOLETO
47 DNF
Fernando Alonso
17
FERNANDO
ALONSO
34 DNF
Carlos Sainz
18
CARLOS
SAINZ
0 DNF
Jack Doohan
19
JACK
DOOHAN
0 DNF
Isack Hadjar
20
ISACK
HADJAR
0 DNF
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6 Apr
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Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street
20 Apr
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United States
Miami
04 May

2025 FORMULA 1 DRIVERS' WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Lando Norris
1
LANDO
NORRIS
25 Points
Max Verstappen
2
MAX
VERSTAPPEN
18
George Russell
3
GEORGE
RUSSELL
15
Alex Albon
4
ALEX
ALBON
12
Kimi Antonelli
5
KIMI
ANTONELLI
10
Lance Stroll
6
LANCE
STROLL
8
Nico Hulkenberg
7
NICO
HULKENBERG
6
Charles Leclerc
8
CHARLES
LECLERC
4
Oscar Piastri
9
OSCAR
PIASTRI
2
Lewis Hamilton
10
LEWIS
HAMILTON
1

2025 FORMULA 1 CONSTRUCTORS' WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

1
McLaren
27
2
Mercedes
25
3
Red Bull
18
4
Williams
12
5
Aston Martin
8
6
Sauber
6
7
Ferrari
5
8
Alpine F1
0
9
Haas F1
0
10
Racing Bulls
0
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